For years, LGBTIQ+ people have been fighting for acceptance, recognition, equity and respect. While there have been improvements, there are still some people who argue that there are only two genders and that this is supported by science. However, what theynet are talking about is sex rather than gender. Gender is about roles, identity and expression. The World Health Organization provides the following description of gender.
'Gender refers to the socially constructed characteristics of women and men, such as norms, roles, and relationships of and between groups of women and men. It varies from society to society and can be changed' (World Health Organization).
Gender development is not straight forward. It is complex with many possible variations that are influenced by a multitude of factors, including hormones or conditions such as congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) which causes a high level of male hormones in females, resulting in female genitalia often being mistaken for male genitalia (NHS 2016).
Sex is binary in its most basic form, that is, male and female. But .... that doesn't exclude variations. Males and females have 23 pairs of chromosomes, for a total of 46 chromosomes. Of these, 22 pairs are identical between males and females. The remaining pair are called the 'sex chromosomes' and in females, they are both X chromosomes, whereas in males, one is an X and one is a Y chromosome (U.S. National Library of Medicine 2019).
However, not everyone is born this way. Some males are born with three X chromosomes, some females are born with a Y chromosome. Some people are born with a physical characteristics of male and female, although it may not be readily identified at birth, or even until much later in life. These people are called intersex. It is estimated that 1 in 1500 people are intersex (Newman 2018).
The following diagram of the 'Genderbread Person', provides an excellent and simplistic guide to sex, gender, identity and expression.
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| www.ItsPronouncedMetrosexual.com |
Just because there's black and white, doesn't mean that colours don't exist. As a result of the variety of sex combinations available through various chromosomal combinations, some scientists have suggested that sex should be considered a continuum, rather than a binary construct (Newman 2018). Similarly, gender identity has a myriad of combinations. The following diagram illustrates some gender combinations.
Science may support two sexes, however, it also supports a spectrum of sex and gender formations and identities. Intersex, by definition, means 'between the sexes', which indicates that sex is not a binary construct; it doesn't have just two options. Unfortunately, understanding nuance is not the forte of conservatives. Many of them have the attitude that intersex is some new fad, even though the number or type of chromosomes one has is not something that one chooses ... and it's been this way for millennia.
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| Source: Lee (2017) |
In terms of hormones, people have testosterone, oestrogen and progesterone. Females tend to have higher levels of oestrogen and progesterone, while males tend to have higher levels of testosterone. But this isn't the case for all. There are men with higher levels of oestrogen and progesterone, while some females are born with higher levels of testosterone.
People are a complex mixture of genes, chromosomes and hormones. Each of these will impact whether a person is male, female or somewhere in-between, whether they are attracted to the same sex, opposite sex or have no sexual attraction, whether they identify with the sex they were apparently born with, or identify some other way ... or any combination not already mentioned.
Sex is a spectrum and gender is fluid, with both presenting in multitudes of ways. This can be confusing for those who only think in black and white, who can't see colours or nuance, who refuse to look outside their own ignorance.
Some conservative or religious people may find that the sex continuum and gender fluidity do not fit their narrow world view, however, not everything can be slotted into some cookie-cutter mould defined by religion or ignorance. Sadly, this has manifested itself through rejection, hate, violence, forced 'medical' treatment, 'conversion' therapy and other harmful practices.
Back in 1967, a quaint, psychedelic British band recorded a song called 'Incense and Peppermints', which had the following timeless lyric that is as relevant now as it was then:
Beatniks and politics, nothing is new
A yardstick for lunatics, one point of view
It's hard to believe that more than 50 years later, there are still people with such narrow world views about sex and gender, while following ultra-conservative politicians and preachers who border on the lunatic.
There's nothing wrong with having a narrow world view, but there is something wrong when this manifests in ways that try to force those views on others. For thousands of years, LGBTIQ+ people have been reviled by others. Of course, not all societies were like that. Some celebrated or revered those who were non-binary or had a gender variance. For instance, North American indigenous communities held 'two-spirit' people, those with male and female spirits, in significant regard (Enos 2017).
Many nations persecute people for their sexuality and gender identity. There are 75 jurisdictions that criminalise same-sex sexual activity between men, 45 jurisdictions that criminalise lesbianism, 12 jurisdictions that impose the death penalty for same-sex activity and another six jurisdictions where the death penalty is a possibility, while 15 jurisdictions criminalise transgender behaviours (Human Dignity Trust n.d.).
Even in countries were it is not criminalised, LGBTIQ+ people face rejection, discrimination and persecution. This was evidenced in Australia during the debate over whether to legalise same-sex marriage. While it was eventually legalised, the arguments were particularly toxic, with there being numerous attacks on LGBTIQ+ people and numerous religious leaders declaring it to be immoral and a threat to the welfare of children. Numerous church leaders said they welcomed gay people as long as they were not engaging in same-sex sexual activities. Imagine the message that this sends to LGBTIQ+ people. It is saying that they are unable to be 100% themselves, they can't bring their whole self to church, to work, or even within their families.
This rejection has a significant impact on the mental health of LGBTIQ+ people. Imagine how it must feel to not be able to discuss what you did on the weekend because it involved your partner and you knew that this would result in you being ostracised, judged, rejected. The first country to legalise same-sex marriage was the Netherlands in 2001. Since then, several other countries have followed, but there is still significant ostracising of and violence against LGBTIQ+ people, resulting in them being more susceptible to anxiety, depression, homelessness, self-harm and suicide. LGBTIQ+ youth often have 'elevated rates of emotional distress, symptoms related to mood and anxiety disorders, self-harm, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior when compared to heterosexual youth', with them experiencing three times the likelihood of suicide compared to heterosexuals (Russell & Fish 2016).
Conversely, where there is acceptance of LGBTIQ+ people, there is less mental health issues, less homelessness, few incidents of self-harm. For instance, in 1985, Denmark became the first country in the world to legalise civil unions, and Sweden followed in 1995. Since then, both countries have legalised same-sex marriage, resulting in the number of suicides of lesbians and gay men almost halving (Wakefield 2019)
When Australia implemented anti-bullying programs in schools, there was a backlash by religious fundamentalists who were convinced that this would turn children gay. Yet, this backlash was the very issue that the anti-bullying programs were trying to address. Studies have found that where schools have such anti-bullying programs and affirm student's sexual and gender identities, there are fewer reports of homophobic victimisation, assault and harassment, while LBGTIQ+ students feel safer and are less susceptible to depression, substance abuse and self-harm than in schools which don't have these programs (Russell & Fish 2016).
This affirmation of identity enables LGBTIQ+ people to be their whole selves without fear. They can go to school, work, church, family, and social situations without feeling the need to hide their sexuality or gender identity.
In 1970, the world's first gay pride parade was held in New York City, on the 12 month anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, in which members of the gay community rioted in protest against ongoing police harassment following a raid on a gay nightclub, the Stonewall Inn (History.com 2019).
Gay pride movements sprang up across the globe to combat the homophobia, harassment and rejection that LGBTIQ+ had experienced for so long, and to provide a safe place for people to be who they truly are without fear.
But the ignorance remains. Homophobic bigots have attempted to hold 'straight pride' rallies and think that gay pride is there for LGBTIQ+ people to force others into their 'lifestyles'. The bigots are the ones who are forcing others into their lifestyles, LGBTIQ+ people simply want the same rights and opportunities. They express it as pride, because for far too long they were made to feel ashamed of who they are, to hide who they are. They were subject to violence, persecution, arrest, vilification. They were told that their natural sexuality and identities were sins. They were told that they were abominations. There are some bigots who still claim this. Straight people have never been arrested or vilified for being 'straight', they have never been made to feel ashamed of their sexuality or gender identity and expression. They have never been in a situation where they cannot talk about their partner.
Thankfully, the world is changing and the dinosaurs who try to force their bigoted views on others are in the minority. Sadly, these dinosaurs continue to cause significant trauma to others. They argue that there is a 'gay agenda' to dismantle society's traditional values. They victimise LGBTIQ+ people in the name of their religion or conservative, archaic 'values', then when they are called out for their homophobia they squeal as though they are the victims.
Gender is fluid and sex is a spectrum, as evidenced by numerous scientific studies and regardless of whether or not some people can comprehend this.
Accepting the facts and accepting people for they are will not destroy society, but will improve it, enabling everyone to live their lives openly and fully. The only 'gay agenda' is one of acceptance, equality and equity.
References
Enos, T 2017, '8 Things You Should Know About Two Spirit People', Indian Country Today, 29 March, viewed 18 January 2020, https://newsmaven.io/indiancountrytoday/archive/8-things-you-should-know-about-two-spirit-people-294cNoIj-EGwJFOWEnbbZw.
History.com 2019, Gay rights, 3 July, viewed 18 January 2020, https://www.history.com/topics/gay-rights/history-of-gay-rights.
Human Dignity Trust n.d., Map of Countries that Criminalise LGBT People, viewed 18 January 2020, https://www.humandignitytrust.org/lgbt-the-law/map-of-criminalisation/.
Lee M, 2017, 'How many genders are there? Two. Sort of.', Medium, 31 October, viewed 24 November 2019, https://medium.com/@cultureshock/how-many-genders-are-there-9a2aa6e82151
Newman T, 2018, 'Sex and gender: what's the difference', Medical News Today, 7 February, viewed 24 November 2019, http://medicalnewstoday.com/articles/232363.php.
NHS 2016, Gender dysphoria - Overview, 12 April, viewed 18 January 2020, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/gender-dysphoria/.
Russell, S & Fish, J 2016, Mental health in lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth, 28 March, Annual review of clinical psychology Vol 12, pp. 465-487, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4887282/
U.S National Library of Medicine 2019, Your guide to understanding chromosomes - how many chromosomes do people have?, 12 November, viewed 24 November 2019. https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/primer/basics/howmanychromosomes
Wakefield, L 2019, 'Same-sex marriage in Sweden and Denmark has reduced the number of lesbians and gay men dying by suicide by almost half', 14 November, viewed 18 January 2020, https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2019/11/14/same-sex-marriage-in-sweden-and-denmark-has-reduced-the-number-of-lesbians-and-gay-men-dying-by-suicide-by-almost-half/
World Health Organization n.d., 'Gender, equity and human rights', viewed 24 November 2019, https://www.who.int/gender-equity-rights/understanding/gender-definition/en/.
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